I tried to install the new version of Reader 9 but it won't install because it can't remove the old version. The Windows uninstaller gives me a message that it can't find "AdbeRdr812_en_us.msi." Is there any way to get this old program off my hard drive so teh new version will install? Can I download a new copy of "AdbeRdr812_en_us.msi" to work around the uninstaller issue?
Thanks,
Gene

I have followed all above suggestions. I am still unable to uninstall 8.1.2 and unable to install 9.0. I have Windows XP. Please advise, thank you.
Here are the variety of error messages I have received to date:

---

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable.

Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package
AdbeRdr812_en_US.msi
in the box below.

Use source:
< choices of 2 different paths, one is Documents & Settings, the other is Program Files >

Error message from Windows Installer

!

The path C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\LocalSettings\Application Data\Adobe\Updater5\Install\reader8rdr-en_US\AdbeRdr812_en_US.msi
cannot be found. Verify that you have access to this location and try again, or try to find the installation package AdbeRdr812_en_US.msi in a folder from which you can install the product AdobeReader 8.1.2.

I did the first 3 steps in the recovery sequence, and got back to where I was before installing Adobe 9, which I won't be installing at all!
A couple of my friends reported the same problem... losing the ability to read .pdf files online after the "automatic" upgrade from 8 to 9.

In my Adobe frustration, (I needed to read PDF files for work yesterday!), I asked around for solution recommendations and installed FOXIT. It's slim and it seems to work fine. Hopefully Adobe will figure out their bug and tell us how to uninstall the broken software (and 87MB of wasted space on my hard drive). I have noticed that my computer has been crashing a few times a day...I suspect it may be related to this Adobe problem.

Uninstalling Adobe Reader fails when pieces of the uninstaller are missing. This can occur when users are running "registry cleaners" or other such software. The remedy usually is removing the remaining parts of the uninstaller with the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility.

Why this has failed for at least one poster in this topic, I don't know. There must be something else going on that we don't know. It is sometimes difficult to give advice when we cannot see *exactly* what a user does.

I have been running Acrobat Reader / Adobe Reader since v4.x under Windows 95 on a number of machines, and I have never had any problems uninstalling or upgrading the Reader.

It worked for me!
1. Delete all files in the main folder (the one adobe acrobat reader)
2. Delete the file AC76BA86-7AD7-1048-7B44-A81200000003 (search in Windows partition for hidden files)
4. Remove Adobe 8.1.2 from Programs and Files with Windos Install Clean UP
5. Install Adobe Reader 8.1.2

I have installed Adobe Reader 8.1.2 because this is better for my weak PC.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html Download from HERE the version you need.

Well as the Tao Te Ching states: Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?

The waters have beome muddied by people with multiple errors. If you are receiving the error 1714 or cannot remove Reader 8 from Add/Remove then follow Pat's advice and download and install the Windows Installer Clean-up available here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

If you are getting the error about "...applying transforms" then use the utility in this link:

The person that is getting the error when trying to install the Windows Installer Clean-up if you are on Vista try right clicking on the mciuu2.exe and choosing Run As Administrator from the context menu.